Introduction
The absolutism that characterized the seventeenth and the eighteenth century was largely necessitated by the upheavals of the sixteenth centuries and the tragedies that were to follow. It in this period that Europe would witness civil wars and religious intolerance leading to the loss of lives for thousands emanating from the differences in creeds. It is in the light of this that the proposal of absolutism was brought on the table with people willing to let go off their democratic and liberalist ideals for the sake of peace and tranquility.
Main text
The monarch got a renewed chance to assert itself in power taking over some important sectors of government with most public officials being answerable to the monarch. This was in the midst of much opposition from the worst critics of the kings; the church and nobles amongst others (Kimmel, Michael S, 16).
There are a number of monarchs that were established in England for example. Absolutism refers to a political arrangement that sees the king or the queen enjoy the control of all the government arms with minimal interference from the legislature. This however was on the wane towards the second half of the 17th century. By the time James VI Scotland took over the mantle of power for example, he had hoped to introduce absolutism, but the legislature still wielded much power he could not succeed. This was in the seventeenth century. France represents one country that practiced absolutism due to the inherent weaknesses of the other government arms (Zmora, Hillay, 36).
. The major differences that exists between absolutism in the 17th century and the one for the 18th century is that not only was the 17th century absolutism lacking the existence of a strong legislature but also the monarch was seen as also having divine backing. There existed minimal or no distinction between the state and the church. Louis XIV of France believed he was anointed by God to lead the people as their king. During his rule he went ahead and dissolved the legislature, further amassing immense political power. Absolutism was thriving more in France than it did in England (Mettam, Roger, 23).
Absolutism in the 18th century was eroding as the legislature encroached on the monarch; England in the eighteenth century took a interesting turn with abolishment of the absolute monarch system. This overthrowing of the monarch paved way for the republic and later the monarch system was to be rendered powerless.
The early part of the Age of Absolutism had the monarch wielding so much power that it clearly dimmed the role of the legislature. The government became highly centralized. It is the 18th century that witnessed the growth of intense mesh of bureaucracy and a powerful national government.
Enlightened absolutism simply would refer to kind of dictatorship under the monarch willing to embrace the ideals of enlightenment. The major focus during this period was religious tolerance and individual ownership of prosperities.
Enlightened absolutism did not vary greatly from the prior absolutism. The role of the government being the central authority, wielding executive control over other arms of the government was still evident. The difference that has been pinpointed by scholars between the enlightened absolutism and the absolute monarch is that the enlightened absolutists embraced a social contract while the absolutists stuck up to the old ideals.
However both types have been seen to still remain powerful and authoritative. They kings still believed they had the exclusive rights to authority. Whether one embraced social contract or not, the central government still continued to wield immense power.
Works Cited
Kimmel, Michael S. Absolutism and Its Discontents: State and Society in Seventeenth-Century France and England. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1988; 18.
Zmora, Hillay. Monarchy, Aristocracy, and the State in Europe – 1300-1800. New York: Routledge, 2001; 36.
Mettam, Roger. Power and Faction in Louis XIV’s France. New York: Blackwell Publishers, 1988; 23.